2018 Ram 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
797 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 188 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 498 of 797 complaints (62.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 664 | 83.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 31 | 3.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 498 |
| Electrical System | 132 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 127 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 100 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 40 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Steering | 33 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 23 |
Service Brakes: 498; Electrical System: 132; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 127; Vehicle Speed Control: 100; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 40; Unknown Or Other: 35; Steering: 33; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 56 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 45 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 34 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 56; 25,000 to 49,999: 45; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 20
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 609 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 64 |
| 2023 | 264 |
| 2024 | 197 |
| 2025 | 102 |
| 2026 | 94 |
2018: 6; 2019: 32; 2020: 17; 2021: 21; 2022: 64; 2023: 264; 2024: 197; 2025: 102; 2026: 94
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 664 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11121896 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE HILL ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LANDER MCLARTY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6533 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190881 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
DODGE RAM INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER FAULTY. TOWING 2015 29.5 T ARCTIC FOX 5TH WHEEL AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP THE TRAILER. WHEN IDLE, WITHOUT USING TRUCK BRAKES, THE TRUCK AND TRAILER MOVE FORWARD, EVEN IF THE GAIN ON THE CONTROLLER IS MANUALLY SET TO 10. MANIPULATING THE GAIN MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. TRAILER BRAKES TESTED AND CERTIFIED BY DEALER AS OPERARATIONAL. DODGE DEALERSHIP IN FOLSOM IS TRYING TO RESOLVE, THE TRUCK PURCHASED NEW AND HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. ON TWO OCCASSIONS THEY HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX. NEXT STEP TAKING 5TH WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11190881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282086 · 2019-11-24 (November 24, 2019)
NMHC CATALYST SENSOR, NOX AFTERTREATMENT SENSOR, AND PM FILTER SENSOR CAN TAKE OVER 1000 MILES TO RESET AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SUCH AS UNPLUGGING THE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FAIL OBDII BASED EMISSIONS TESTING. DEPENDING ON OWNERS DRIVING HABITS, THIS CAN RESULT IN LARGE FINES FROM MULTIPLE FAILED SMOG TESTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11282086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419869 · 2021-06-07 (June 7, 2021)
2018 Dodge Ram 3500. Consumer stated that they have experienced numerous issues with vehicle from power steering, electrical and fuel pump problems. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A HARD TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE ENGINE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090380 · 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND I SWITCHED TO 4X4 LOCK. AS I ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY AT 3 MILES AN HOUR IN REVERSE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN CLOCKWISE THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE IN MOTION FOR ROUGHLY 7 FEET. IT ALSO SHOOK AS I ACCELERATED IN DRIVE SLIGHTLY AT 3 MILES AN HOUR WHILE TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN COUNTER CLOCKWISE. IT HAD THE SAME SHAKE IN 4X4 LOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11173919 · 2019-02-04 (February 4, 2019)
FRONT STEERING ARM COUPLERS CAME LOOSE
Owner-reported narrative. 14,918 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151363 · 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
TRUCK SHUDDERS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND AGAIN FROM 2ND TO THIRD . SHUDDER HARD ENOUGH TO SEE TO DASH SHACK. SHIFTING SHUDDER HARD WHILE TOWING. BLUE TOOTH CUTS OUT WHILE STREAMING MUSIC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193081 · 2019-04-01 (April 1, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED REAR END DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *DT *DT*JB *DT *DT *DT *DT*JB WE RAN THE TESTS AS REQUESTED. WITH THE FIRST 2 TESTS, THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM …
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365431 · 2020-10-20 (October 20, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL FRAGMENTS HAD PENETRATED THE FUEL LINE FILTER AND INTO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655691 · 2025-04-20 (April 20, 2025)
The turbo actuator quit working at 103,000 miles. Loss of power. Took to Dodge dealer in Bartlesville Oklahoma to fix. I bought an extended warranty but it wouldn’t cover the cost because I have a flatbed. Out $7,500. I noticed they recalled this part on the 2015 and they need to on the 2018.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655691 at NHTSA ↗